describes an enduring pattern of attraction—emotional, romantic, sexual, or some combination of these—to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them

cliques

tightly structured groups of 5-7 friends- begin as same sex, by mid-adolescence mixed sex, in late adolescence groups of couples

crowds

larger, more loosely organized groups of cliques- based on reputation and stereo type, provides identity in larger school culture

generation gap

parent-adolescent differences in values and attitudes (studies show differences mostly in personal preferences, not in the importance of hard work,
educational aspirations, core values)

G. Stanley Hall's theory of storm and stress

three key aspects: conflict with parents, mood disruptions, and risky behavior- not all adolescents experience it, but is more likely during adolescence than at other ages (recent research with rats demonstrated this)

Well-adjusted
Regarded as attractive, lively and sociable
Often in leadership positions
May become rigid, inflexible, conforming and somewhat discontented adults

Changes associated w/ puberty and parent/adolescent relationships

Some increase in conflict, especially bickering- due to changes in the balance of power, puberty and cognitive changes

4 identity statuses (James Murcia)

moratorium, achieved, diffusion, foreclosed

moratorium

Ongoing and active exploration of alternatives to find values and goals that fit and will provide guidance and coherence
Considered the other “high status” or positive identity formation stage
They describe their current thinking and behavior in terms of active exploration of different points of view or behaviors
May seem frustrated or confused, but they are actively addressing these issues

identity achieved

Committed to a clearly formulated set of values and goals
Feel a sense of psychological well-being, self-continuity, and purpose
Have reached this stage after having passed through moratorium

identity forclosure

Have accepted values and goals that authority figures have chosen for them
It is not just that they agree with authority figures, but that they have clearly NOT gone through a stage of active questioning before arriving at these goals and values
Typically they name the group they agree with and often express the opinion that questioning those views would not be a worthwhile or admirable exercise

identity diffusion

Do not have a firm commitment to values or goals and are not actively exploring alternatives
Apathetic, powerless, disinterested, disdainful responses

individuals show concern with self interest and external rewards and punishments

conventional reasoning

individual does what is expected of them by others

postconventional reasoning

individual develops more autonomous decision making based on principles of rights and justice

Kohlberg's tasks

presented a series of fictional dilemmas, each of which was constructed to elicit moral reasoning. ex. a man must decide whether or not to steal a drug he cannot afford, to save his dying wife; train dilemma; bridge/train dilemma

health sexual development

Need to feel comfortable with maturing body
Accept having feelings of sexual arousal as normal
Understanding that sex is a voluntary activity
Understanding and practicing safe sex

describe adolescent susceptibility to addiction

decrease in dopamine production after drug/alcohol use, extremely sensitive period for the dopaminergic systerm

emerging adulthood

Approximately 18-25 years old
Socially constructed period because of delays in adult milestones
Involves experimentation and exploration of lifestyle choices and decision making

The damage that occurs when perceived environmental demands exceed a person’s capacity to cope with them- affects health both short-term and long-term, and chronic stress is implicated in many age-related disease states

role of expertise

Middle adulthood marks an increase in competencies shown in solving problems effectively in a chosen vocational field

generativity

perpetuating one’s influence on the generation that follows
I feel as though I have made a difference to many people
I have made and created things that have had an impact on other people
I think that I will be remembered for a long time after I die
I have important skills that I try to teach others
I have made many commitments to many different kinds of people, groups and activities in my life
People come to me for advice
Other people say that I am a very productive person

mid-life crisis

Present in some life events models, the idea that middle adulthood is marked by increased anxiety, unhappiness, and a critical reappraisal of one’s life.

mid-life crisis characterized by...

focus on the finite nature of life.
realize they will not live forever.
concentrate on the present.
begin to question some of their fundamental assumptions.
experience their first signs of aging.
begin to doubt the value of their accomplishments.
confront the fact that they will not be able to accomplish all their aims before they die.

sandwich generation

middle adulthood: taking care of one's children as well as one's aging parents

caregiver burnout

happens frequently with adults and their aging parents- feeling unable to attend to the ever growing needs of one's parents or parents-in-law

normative crisis model

Views psychosocial development in terms of fairly universal stages, tied to a sequence of age-related crises.

life events model

Suggests that timing of particular events, rather than age per se, determines course of psychosocial development

boomerang children

individuals who move back in with their parents after college

reasons children boomerang

Men are more likely to do it than women.
Unable to find a job.
Difficulty making ends meet.
People are marrying at later ages.
Parents' reactions are both positive and negative

giving/receiving love and attention, greater meaning to life, becoming less selfish, learning to sacrifice, satisfaction of watching children grow, less fear of your own death

cons of parenting

loss of freedom, restriction of choices, not enough time for family and work, less time with partner, worries over child's health and safety, fear that children will turn out unhappy

well being in adulthood: components of

self acceptance, positive relations with others, autonomy. U shaped curve of well being, starts out high, dips and comes back up in adulthood.

self-acceptance

holding a positive attitude toward oneself and one's past life. (component of adult well being)

positive relations w/ people

having warm, satisfying, trusting relationships with others and concern and empathy for others.
(component of adult well being)

autonomy

being self-determined, independent, and resistant to social pressures.
(component of adult well being)

empty nest syndrome

Parents experience feelings of unhappiness, worry, loneliness, and depression resulting from their children's departure from home.
More of a myth than a reality
The real stressor may be the refilling of the nest by grown children returning home.

benefits of children leaving home

Parents can work harder.
More time alone.
House stays cleaner.
Phone doesn't ring so much

ageism

Prejudice or discrimination against a person based on age

how is ageism expressed?

Negative attitudes about older people, especially about competence and attractiveness.
Job discrimination
Identical behavior by an older person and a younger person is interpreted differently.
People talk baby talk to persons in nursing homes.
Most negative views are based on misinformation about older people

primary aging

physical, unpreventable again

secondary aging

again caused by bodily misuse and abuse

gerontology

The study of the aged and the process of aging

functional age

age that indicates the actual
competence and performance of older adults; may be higher or lower than chronological age

chronological age

how many years a person has lived

cataracts

progressive thickening of the lens of the eye that causes vision to become cloudy, opaque, and distorted

Programmed senescence

genes are turned off and on systematically w/ aging - some proof in twin studies
(genetic programming theory)

Endocrine theory

hormones are being turned off
(genetic programming theory)

Immunological theory

the immune system changes
(genetic programming theory)

Evolutionary theory

death process begins after we are unable to procreate
(genetic programming theory)

Wear-and-tear theory

living bodies get weaker just as with use a knife's edge becomes dulled
(variable rate theory)

age is a result of inevitable change written into a person's genetic code

variable rate theories

biological aging as a result of processes that vary from person to person and are influenced by both the internal and the external environment

age-related macular degeneration

results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field (the macula) because of damage to the retina

glaucoma

eye disease in which the optic nerve is permanently damaged in a characteristic pattern

dementia

a serious loss of global cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging

Alzheimer's disease

an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks

Parkinson's disease

a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. The motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease result from the death of dopamine-generating cells- early on: slowness, rigidity, shakiness, problems with walking; cognitive and behavioural problems may arise later on

Good health
Higher SES
Continued education
Involvement in an intellectually stimulating environment
A flexible personality
Being married (to a bright spouse)
Feeling satisfied with one’s accomplishments in earlier periods of late adulthood

disengagement theory

a quieting of the mind and the soul- society expects your to withdrawal, and if you do, you will be happy (obviously not true)

Care for others and contribute to
well-being of the young - middle adulthood (Erickson)

Ego integrity vs. dispair

Evaluate lifetime, accept it as it is- late adulthood (Erickson)

Factors: retirement

Workers may be burned out after working all their lives.
Jobs can be frustrating and tension-filled.
Health may decline.
Incentives are offered by their company to retire early.
Desire to travel and see more of family

retirement stages

Reorientation is the stage where retirees reconsider their options and become engaged in new, more fulfilling activities
A retirement routine stage occurs when retirees come to grips with the realities of retirement and feel fulfilled in this new phase of life.
The final stage is the process of termination where the retiree either goes back to work or health deteriorates so badly that the person can no longer function independently.

successful retirement

plan ahead financially, consider tapering off from work gradually, explore your interests before you retire, plan to volunteer your time

hospice care

end of life care that emphasizes the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of dying persons and
their families

palliative care

end of life care focused on comfort care and relieving pain, rather than on treatment

active euthanasia

death induced deliberately (of a person who is suffering from an incurable disease or severe disability)

bereavement

experience of losing a loved one

grief

intense psychological response that often accompanies bereavement

advance directive

person’s written and oral
instructions concerning end-of-life care

life review

according to Robert Butler, the process in late adulthood when people reflect on the life they have lived and come to an acceptance of it